| 17th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of 17th Infantry Division | |
| Active | 17 September 2013 - present |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Branch |  Bangladesh Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Jalalabad Cantonment |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General A. S. M. Ridwanur Rahman |
| Notable commanders |
|
The 17th Infantry Division is a formation of the Bangladesh Army. It was formed as part of the development vision of Bangladesh Armed Forces Forces Goal 2030. [1] It is located in Sylhet Division.
The division was officially formed on 17 September 2013, according to Forces Goal-2030. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally announced the raising of the division by hoisting the divisional flag at Jalalabad Cantonment. The division started its journey with the formation of 360 Infantry Brigade and the 32 and 33 Bangladesh Infantry Regiments. [2] [1]
On 23 November 2016, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stones of eight projects, including the division headquarters, at Sylhet Cantonment. A flag-raising ceremony of nine units, including a newly formed brigade was also held. [3] [4]
Under the division, there are 3 new infantry brigades, 8 infantry regiments, 1 artillery brigade, 3 artillery regiments and 7 other various units. [5] [ failed verification ] [6] [ failed verification ] [7] [ failed verification ] Major General Chowdhury Mohammad Azizul Haque Hazary is the current commander of the division. One of the previous commanders, Major General Jubayer Salehin, who also served as Sylhet Area, as its Area Commander [8] became the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC). [9]
The Bangladesh Armed Forces are the military forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. They consist of the three uniformed military services: the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. The Armed Forces are under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Defence of the Government of Bangladesh, and are directly administered by the Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office. The President of Bangladesh serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh has the third-largest defence budget in South Asia, The Bangladeshi military is the 37th strongest in the world and the third most powerful military force in South Asia. Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. during peacetime, but during wartime they fall under the command of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy respectively.
Hamidur Rahman was a sepoy in Bangladesh Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Rahman was killed on 28 October 1971 at Dholoi during the Battle of Dhalai, Srimangal during an attempt to capture the Pakistani Army position. The advancing Mukti Bahini column finally captured the Dhalai Border Outpost on 3 November 1971. He was posthumously awarded the Bir Sreshtho, the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh. The Dhalai post was eventually captured permanently by three infantry battalions belonging to 61 Mountain Brigade, one battalion belonging to East Bengal Regiment and 7 Rajputana Rifles supported by an artillery brigade of the Indian Army fought against 12 Frontier Force Regiment of the Pakistan Army.
The East Bengal Regiment is one of the two infantry regiments of the Bangladesh Army, the other being the Bangladesh Infantry Regiment. East Bengal Regiment was founded by Major Abdul Gani.
Operation Searchlight was a military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army in an effort to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in former East Pakistan in March 1971. Pakistan retrospectively justified the operation on the basis of anti-Bihari violence carried out en masse by the Bengalis earlier that month. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, the original plans envisioned taking control of all of East Pakistan's major cities on 26 March, and then eliminating all Bengali opposition, whether political or military, within the following month.
The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to defend the land of Bangladesh from any external attack. Control of personnel and operations is administered by the Army Headquarters, Dhaka Cantonment. The Bangladesh Army is also constitutionally obligated to assist the government, during times of domestic national emergency e.g. the army helps people during any natural calamity. This additional role is commonly referred to as "aid to civil administration" or, using the Latin form, "Protectio, Transparentia, Reintegratio", in others words, "Protect and Serve".
Dhaka Cantonment is a cantonment located in the northern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Army and Air Force are situated within the cantonment. The cantonment is located on the north-east end of Dhaka.
Operation Cactus Lilly, better known as The Meghna Heli Bridge or the Crossing of the Meghna, was an air assault operation conducted between 9 and 12 December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It was conducted by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force to cross the Meghna River, bypass a Pakistani stronghold at Ashuganj/Bhairab Bazar and reach Dhaka. The operation is generally regarded as the brainchild of Maj. Gen. Sagat Singh. Without it, Indian forces would not have been able to complete the encirclement of Dhaka and it would likely have led to a lengthening of the war.
Shafaat Jamil, Bir Bikrom was a Bangladesh Army colonel. He was the commanding officer of the 3rd East Bengal Regiment of Z Force Brigade in Sector 11 of Bangladesh Forces during the War of Bangladesh Independence in 1971. He was among the first Bengali officers who rebelled against the Pakistani Army in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh and later fought in 11 sector and in Sylhet sector.
The Pakistani plan for a military action which commenced on March 25, 1971, in the then East Pakistan was code-named Operation Searchlight. This is the Operation Searchlight order of battle which was outlined on March 19, 1971, by Major General Khadim Hussain Raja, GOC 14th infantry division, and Major General Rao Farman Ali in the GHQ of Pakistan Army in Dhaka, (then)East Pakistan.
Mymensingh Cantonment is a military installation, situated at the heart of Mymensingh. It was formally headquartered by the 19th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army. Currently, it has the headquarters of Army Training and Doctrine Command, which consists of its Battle Group within the cantonment. The 77th Infantry Brigade under the 19th Infantry Division is also located in this cantonment. The first General Officer Commanding of ARTDOC was Major General Md Zia-Ur-Rahman.
Ramu Cantonment is a cantonment located in Ramu of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. It is the headquarters of 10th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army. The area of the cantonment is 3000 acres.
Jalalabad Cantonment is a cantonment located in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Chittagong Cantonment is situated near Bayezid Bostami of Chattogram, Bangladesh. It is the headquarters of 24th Infantry Division.
The 99th Composite Brigade is a brigade formation of the Bangladesh Army. It was raised per the project "Establishment of 99 Composite Brigade for Safety and Security of Padma Multipurpose Bridge" and army development project "Forces Goal 2030".
The 10th Infantry Division is a formation of the Bangladesh Army and one of the three divisions of Chattogram Division. It's located in the city of Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh. It was formed as part of the development vision of Bangladesh Armed Forces Forces Goal 2030.
The 9th Infantry Division is a formation of the Bangladesh Army, based in Savar Cantonment, Savar, Dhaka. It is the first infantry division of the Bangladesh Army that was raised post-independence.
Jashore Cantonment is a cantonment located in the southern part of Bangladesh in Jashore District outside Jashore town and the Headquarters of 55th Infantry Division.
Shahid Salahuddin Cantonment is a cantonment located in Ghatail Upazila, Tangail District, Bangladesh.The cantonment is named in honour of Captain Salauddin Mumtaz who was killed during Battle of Kamalpur at Bangladesh Liberation War. The contemporary commander is Major General Hussain Muhammad Mashiur Rahman.
The 11th Infantry Division is a formation of the Bangladesh Army based in Bogra Cantonment.